Expansible liner



Nov. 5, 1957 Filed Jan. 24, 1955 EXPANSIBLE LINER 5 Sheets-Sheet l James0. Tea 09 W//fre0 7. Do/iefzy INVENTORJ BY ZM/M 1957 J. u. TEAGUE ET AL2,812,025

EXPANSIBLE LINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1955 James 0. TeagueW/hrec/ 7T Duke/f9 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent EXPANSIBLELINER James U. Teague and Wilfred T. Doherty, Houston, Tex.

Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,746

9 Claims. (Cl. 166-207) The present invention relates to well toolsuseful in methods of lining one or more sect-ions of the inside of adrilled well bore, such as drilled for oil, sulphur, brine Water, freshwater and the like, and, more particularly, to an expansible liner toeffect a seal between sections of the outside wall of the liner and thewall of the drilled hole or if the Well is cased, then between theinside of the casing and the outside of the liner.

In the drilling and production of well bores and the like, such as oilwells, sulphur, brine water and the like, it would be advantageous toprovide an expansible liner for lining one or more portions or sectionsof the well bore so that the inner diameter of the liner is near orclose to the same as that of the drilled hole or casing therebyresulting in an opening of maximum diameter through the liner whichpermits operations below the liner without materially reducing the sizeof the hole drilled or the size of the drilling or other tools usedtherebelow. It would also be advantageous to provide such a liner whichmay readily be removed from the well bore if such is desired. Also, itwould be advantageous to provide a liner for sealing oif a section of awell bore for testing the formation traversed by the well bore todetermine its fluid or gas content without the time and expense ofeasing the full depth of the well through the particular formation orsand to be tested.

It would also be advantageous'to. provide an expansible liner forsealing off undesired perforations or openings in casing in a well borefor the purpose of shutting off the production of undesired fluid or gasor for closing certain ports of perforater sections of casing to protectthem from the effects of pumping cement or acid into the formationopposite the perforated casing, for example as is often done in thecompletion and repair of oil wells, as well as in other cases where itis desirable to close ofli portions of a perforated section of casing ina well and yet leave an opening of a size suificient to permit work toeffectively be done below the closed off section.

It is therefore a major object of the present invention to provide anexpansible liner for lining well bores, both cased and uncased, and anexpansible liner therefor which provides an opening of maximum diameterthrough the sealed off or lined portion which permits work toeffectively be done therebelow.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a linerfor lining sections of well bores at the faces of formations traversedby the well bores so that formation tests of these formations may bemade without the necessity or expense of casing the ,full depth of the,well. through the formation or sand to be tested.

Still a furtherobject of the present invention is the provision of anexpansible liner for individually lining or sealing off formations suchas heaving shale, thosetwith abnormal pressures, sloshing and othertroublesome therethrough in order that further drilling or other opera-2,8 12,025 Patented Nov. 5, 1957,

ice

tions may be performed and yet at the same time provide an openingtherethrough of a size sufiicient not to interfere with drilling orother operations therebelow.

Yet a'further object of the present invention is the provision of aliner for sealing oif sections of undesired perforations or openings incasings or closing certain portions of perforated sections of casing forvarious purposes, such as shutting off production of undesired fluid orgas and protecting the perforated sections from the effects of pumpingcement or acid into the formation opposite the perforated casing and inall instances leave an opening of a size sufficient to permit work toeffectively be done below the closed off portion with a minimum ofinterference.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision ofmeans for sealing otf portions of well bores, cased or uncased, of thecharacter mentioned whichis economical, which may be performed quicklyand readily and which is reliable in use and provides a minimum ofinterference for operations through the sealed or closed off portionwith a maximum opening therethrough so that work may be performedtherebelow.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of anexpansible liner or packer which may be lowered through restrictedportions in the well bore, such as cased off portions, and lowered belowthe restricted portion and expanded into sealing or lining position withthe walls of the well bore.

Other and'further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will appear as the description of preferred examples of theinvention proceeds, which are given for the purpose of disclosure, andwhich are taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherelike character references designate like parts throughout the severalviews, and where Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, side elevation, partly insection, illustrating an expansible liner according to the inventionandadapted particularly for use in testing a formation and illustrating theexpansible liner as it is being lowered into the well bore,

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but illustrates the linerin expanded position adjacent the formation for the purpose of liningthe Wall of the formation so that a test thereof may be made,

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but illustratesthe expansible liner expanded in place in the well bore adjacent theformation with the setting tool detached therefrom and being removedfrom the well bore, Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view,illustrating an expansible liner according to theinvention disposedabout a hydraulic setting tool for lowering the liner into place in thewell bore and there expanding the liner into sealing or lining positionwith the Walls of the well bore or the casing, as the case may be,

Figure 5 illustrates a modified expansible liner constructed inaccordance with the invention,

Figure 6 illustrates a further modified form of expansible linerconstructed according to the invention, 1

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic, side elevation, in section, illustrating apack-off liner according to theinvention in place and effectivelypacking off a section of uncased Well bore through the formation so thatdrilling or other operations therebelow may effectively be accomplished,Figure 8 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating amodified form of setting tool for expanding a liner into position in thewell bore, and

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8and looking in the direction of useful in testing formations isillustrated. In these figures, *the numeral designates an uncased wellbore which has a formation 12 which is desired to be tested for its porecontent, such as gas or fluid therein. The expansible liner is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 14 and is lowered into place in thewell bore by means of the string of pipe '16 extending to the surface ofthe ground, not shown, to which string of pipe 16 is connected a settingtool, generally indicated by the reference numeral 18, which in turn issecured to the expansible liner 14.

For making formation tests it is necessary to provide a seal above andbelow the formation or that portion of the formation being tested inorder to seal off the formation from drilling fluid which normally is inthe .well boreduring drilling operations so that uncontamina'ted porefluid may be obtained. For this purpose a pair of axially spaced packingbands or packers 20 may be disposed about the expansible liner 14, whichpackers or packing bands may be formed of any flexible, resilient ordeformable material, for example, neoprene, rubber and the like so thatupon expanding the liner 14 .the packers 20 sealingly engage the wallsof the well bore 10 adjacent the formation 12 which is to be tested.Intermediate of the packers 20 the body of the expansible liner 14 maybe slotted or provided with a screen, such as indicated by thereference. numeral 22 so that pore fluid from the formation 12 may bereceived interiorly ,of the expansible liner 14 for the purpose ofmaking a test. If desired the body of the liner 14 intermediate thepackers 20 may be imperforate and after the liner .is expanded intoplace in the well bore, this intermediate portion may be perforated inthe same manner as when a complete string of casing has been cemented inthe Well bore. In this case the spaced packings 20 may be in the form ofa solid tubular sheath, surround- Ling the .liner 14. When the liner 14is perforated, the intermediate portions of the packer will also beperforated. Any conventional perforating means and method maybe used andno description thereof is deemed neces- .sary.

It will be understood that the expansible liner 14 may be lowered intothe well bore on a cable rather than the pipe 16. In this case, theexpansible liner may be expanded and set by an explosive, such asdetonating prima cord interiorly thereof as well as in other ways.

Before referring to details of construction of specific apparatus of theinvention it is seen that an expansible liner 14 is provided which maybe lowered into an un cased well bore adjacent a formation 12 to betested and there expanded into place and the expanding mechanismretrieved to line or seal ofi a section of the well bore at theparticular formation to be made without the necessity of completelycasing the well. A conventional formationtester may then be lowered intothe well bore and a .test made of the formation in the usual manner. Asthere are many formation testers in widespread use, and the formationtesters form no part of the present invention, no description thereof isdeemed necessary. It should be noted, however, that, if desired only thetop packers 20 or any number thereof or an elongate tubular sheath maybe utilized.

Referring now to Figure 4, the expansible liner 14 and setting tool 18areillustrated in detail. Referring first to the expansible liner 14 thepacking elements 20 are each supported at their exposed ends by theretaining rings 24, which retaining rings may be made of metal or othersuitable material and which are secured to the body 26 of the expansibleliner 14. These re- ,taining rings are for the purpose of confining andsupporting the packer or packer rings 20 about the body 26 oftheexpansible liner 14.

' The body 26 maybe of the solid type illustrated in Figure 5 or may beof a longitudinally split type illustratedin Figure 6.

For convenience of reference, in the examples of the liners illustratedin Figures 5 and 6 the same reference numerals are used as those inFigure 4 with the addition of the letters a and b, respectively, forsimilar parts. Referring now to Figure 5, the body 26a is a solidbodyand is thin-walled and tubular which may be formed of any materialof the desired ductility and strength. Suitable material for thispurpose, by way of example, is iron, brass, steel, copper and any othermaterial which may be expanded beyond its elastic limit so that it 'isdeformed and remains in deformed shape in sealing or lining positionagainst the walls of the well bore. It is noted that this material mustbe a fairly soft material but yet must be one which may be expandedbeyond its elastic limit so that its tensile strength when expanded issutficient to overcome pressures and withstand temperatures of the orderin the well bore where used. Thus, material such as lead and othermaterials which readily flow under pressure and which do not have thetensile strength to withstand pressures of the order in the well borewhere used without flowing would not be satisfactory for the purpose. Itshould be noted, however, that more than one liner may be expanded intoplace to give the strength required. For example, a first liner may beexpanded into place, a second liner expanded into place inside the firstliner and this continued until the required strength is obtained. Thus,it is only necessary that the material be strong enough so that one ormore of the liners withstand the pressures, but the material should notbe readily fiowable at all times, such as lead and the like.

Referring now to the form of expansible liner illustrated in Figure 6,.the expansible liner 14b may have a body 26b formed of any desirablematerial of the strength necessary to be used in the well bore. In thisform of the invention the expansible liner 14b is longitudinally splitas at 28 and mating buttress threads or longitudinally extending coarsethreads or ratchet teeth 30 are provided on the overlapping ends 32 ofthe body 26b. Thus, in this form of the invention when the body 26b ofexpansible liner 14b is expanded into position the buttress or ratchettype threads 32 extending longitudinally of the expansible liner 1411will be engaged and effectively and reliably maintain the expansibleliner 14b in extended position.

It should be noted that in the case of all these expansible liners athin-walled body section is provided which is generally tubular inconfiguration and which is of an external diameter smaller than the holeinto which it is to be placed and, in the event there are restrictionsin the well bore above the place the liner is to be expanded intoposition, it is of a diameter sufficient to pass therethrough. Also, inthe form of the expansible liners in which they are longitudinally splitand have overlapping portions, the overlapping portions are such as topermit complete expansion into sealing engagement with the walls of thewell bore and still provide suflicient overlap to completely seal orline the particular section of well bore or casing desired.

Referring again to Figure 4, the expansible liner 14 is shown secured tothe setting tool 18. This may beaccomplished in any preferred mannersuch as by threading the upper and lower ends of the expansible liner 14to the cones 34'which in turn are threaded or otherwise secured to themandrel 36 of the setting tool 18. These cones 34 are disposedexteriorly of the setting tool and cooperate with the interior cones 38which are threadedly or otherwise secured to the setting mandrel 36 tosecurely hold the flexible bag 40, which extends the length of thesetting tool 18 in position about the mandrel 36.

The bag 40 may be formed of any suitable and flexible material, such asrubber, so that it might be expanded to thereby expand the expansibleliner 14 disposed thereabout.

Disposed interiorly of the bag 40 are one or more ports or openings 42in the mandrel 36 for the purpose of supplying fluid pressure to theinterior of the bag 40 for expanding the same and thereby expanding theexpansible liner 14. The upper end of the mandrel 36 may be threadedlyor otherwise secured to the string of pipe 16 extending to the surfaceand the lower end may be provided with an opening or port 44 so thatfluid may be circulated through the expanding tool and liner whileraising or lowering the tool and/ or liner in the well bore and whichincludes a valve seat 46 upon which the drop valve 48 seats when droppedinto position.

In setting an expansible liner with the setting tool illustrated inFigure 4, the expansible liner is attached to the setting tool 18 asdescribed and the mandrel 36 is threadedly or otherwise secured to astring of pipe 16 and lowered into a well bore adjacent a formation 12to be tested, such as illustrated in Figure 1. As the setting tool andliner are lowered into the well bore fluid circulates upwardly throughthe interior of the mandrel 36 and the manipulating string of pipe 16.After the desired location to make a formation test is reached, aspreviously mentioned, the drop valve 48 is dropped from the surface inthe manipulating string of pipe 16 and it seats on the valve seat 46thereby effectively sealing off the opening 44 at the lower end of themandrel 36. Pressure may then be applied to the interior of the flexiblebag 40 through the ports 42 in the mandrel 36 and this may beaccomplished by placing drilling fluid within the operating string ofpipe 16 and the mandrel 36 under pressure by pumps, not shown, at thesurface. Pressures of the order to overcome the elastic limit of thebody 26 of the expansible liner may be used if the expansible liner isof the type illustrated in Figure 5 or lesser pressures may be used ifthe expansible liner is of the type illustrated in Figure 6 until theexpansible liner 14 is expanded into position, as best seen in Figure 2.In this case the packing bands 20 sealingly engage the walls of the wellbore 10 adjacent the formation 12 and eifectively seal off the areatherebetween so that pore fluid from the formation confined between thepacking bands 20 may flow through the openings 22 into the interior ofthe body 26 of the expansible liner 14. In the event an elongatedtubular sheath-type packing is utilized, the expansible liner 14 andpacking along a substantial length of the liner is expanded.

It should be noted that as the body 26 of the expansible liner 14expands it automatically disengages itself at each end from the cones 34so that the setting mechanism is automatically released from theexpansible liner.

An overshot may then be run down the interior of the string of pipe 16and the mandrel 36 and the drop valve 48 retrieved. This may beaccomplished by running the overshot on a wire line. No detaileddescription thereof is deemed necessary. The setting mechanism or tool18 may then be raised from the well bore, as best seen in Figure 3, anda conventional formation tester set inside the liner 14. Thus fluid fromthe formation flows through the slots, openings or perforations 22 intothe interior of the formation testing tool.

It should be'noted that one or more or all of the packing bands 20 maybe omitted from the liner, such as illustrated in the fragmentary viewsin Figures 5 and 6 and in the pack off type liner 14c illustrated inFigure 7, although one or more packing bands or packers may be used withthese liners.

Referring now to Figure 7, it is seen the liner 140 may be lowered intothe uncased well bore 10c and a section thereof packed or sealed off bythe liner 140, such as the formation 120, which is desired to bebypassed and in which it is desired to have a maximum opening throughthe closed ofi portion so that drilling or other operations in the wellbore 10:: may be performed below the packed off section. It should benoted that the expansible liner. 14c may be either of the solid bodytype such as illus-v trated inFigure 5 or the longitudinally split bodytype such as illustrated in Figure 6. Also, if required, an additionalliner may be expanded into place inside the liner 140.

Thus, the expansible liner may be used for packing off or liningformations desired to be bypassed for numerous reasons and includes themethod of lowering an expansible liner into a well bore adjacent asection of uncased formation desired to be lined or sealed off,expanding the liner in place adjacent this formation and withdrawing theexpanding tool whereby a thin-walled section of liner is positioned inthe well bore which effectively and reliably seals off the section ofthe well bore 10 through the formation 120.

As best seen in Figure 6 it should be noted that all forms of theexpansible liner may include the anchors 50 which are pivotally securedto the body 26b, such as by the bosses 62 and which are yieldinglyforced outwardly into engagement with the wall of the well bore by meansof the springs 54 disposed between the body 26b and the anchors 50.Adjacent the free extremities of the anchors 50 there are provided theopenings 56 through which a wire or other anchor restraining means mayextend. Thus, in lowering the expansible liner into the well bore thespring 58 maintains the anchors 59 in retracted position, which is in aposition generally parallel to the sides of the body 26b of theexpansible liner 14b and upon expanding the liner 14b the wire 58 isbroken thereby permitting the springs 54 to urge the anchors 50outwardly and to engage the sides of the well bore and assist inmaintaining the liner in position. It will be understood that theseanchors may be omitted from or added to any of the expansible linersconstructed according to the invention.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, a modified form of setting tool isillustrated for expanding the liner 14.- Referring now to these figures,the expansible liner 14 is shown assembled about the mechanical typesetting tool 18d. In this particular expanding tool, a body 56 isprovided in which the mandrel 36d is slidably mounted and yieldinglymaintained in an upward position by means of the spring 58 disposedbetween the body 56 and the mandrel 36d and engaging the inwardlyextending stop shoulder 60 on the body 56 and the shoulder or pistonlike member 62 disposed at the upper end of the mandrel 36d. The piston62 has the packing 64 and has an opening 66 throughout its length whichterminates in a valve seat 46d at its upper end which cooperates withthe drop valve 48d to close the passage in the mandrel 36a for actuatingthe mandrel.

Axially spaced pairs of arms 63 are provided which terminate in thecontact members 70 which engage the inner wall of the expansible liner14. The fingers or arms 68 extend through the slotted portions 72 of thebody 56. The contact members 70 are supported on the extending restshoulders 74 of the body 56.

In expanding a liner into place in a well bore with the mechanicalexpander of Figures 8 and 9, the liner 14 is assembled upon the expander18d as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 and lowered into the well bore tothe desired formation on the lower end of a manipulating string of pipe.On lowering the assembled unit in the well bore, drilling fluid is freeto flow in through the ports 44d up through the passage 66 in themandrel 36d and out the upper end and into the string of pipe, notshown, to which the body 18d is connected. When the desired location isreached the drop valve 48d is dropped from the surface of the pipe inthe interior of the string of manipulating pipe and it seats on thevalve seat 46d. Fluid within the string of pipe extending to the surfaceis then placed under pressure which lowers the piston 62 and thereby themandrel 36d thereby causing the arms 68 to move outwardly due to thefact that they swing upwardly inasmuch as their outer ends are held inanupward position by the stop shoulders 74 on the body 56. After the liner14 has been expanded into position the pressure may be released therebypermitting the mandrel 36d to be moved upwardly by the spring 58 whichreleases the arms 68 and contact member 70 from the liner 14. It isnoted that the upper end of the drop valve 48d is provided with ashouldered portion so that a conventional overshot may be lowered togrip the valve 48d and retrieve it as in the case of the expanding tool18 illustrated in Figure 4. The expanding device 18d may then beremovedfrom the well bore and drilling mud will circulate through the device asin the case when it is lowered into the well bore but, of course, in theopposite direction.

No more detailed description of expanding devices is deemed necessary asany type expanding device may be used, either mechanical, hydraulic or acombination of both.

In connection with the liners, as previously mentioned, it should benoted that a series of liners may be placed inside of one another, ifdesired, in order to build up a lined or sealed off section of desiredstrength in the event the particular liner utilized is not of suflicientstrength for the particular purpose.

It is therefore apparent that the present invention is well adapted tocarry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages set forth aswell as others inherent therein. Also, numerous changes in details ofconstruction may be made which will readily suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An expansible liner for lowering into a well bore and expanding intoposition therein for lining a section of wall thereof comprising, agenerally tubular, elongate, thin-walled, metal body, said body beinglongitudinally split along its length, the longitudinal ends of saidbody overlapping one another, and ratchet teeth on said overlapping endsextending longitudinally substantially the length of the body whereby onexpansion of said liner said ratchet teeth engage and prevent collapsingof the liner.

2. An expansible liner for lowering into a well bore and expanding intoposition therein for lining a section of wall or casing thereofcomprising, a generally tubular, elongate, thin-walled, metal bodyadapted to be radially expanded into engagement with the section ofwall, at least one packing ring surrounding the body for radialexpansion into sealing engagement with the section of wall or casing onexpansion of said body as aforesaid, said body being longitudinallysplit along its length, longitudinally-extending, overlapping matingends along the split, and ratchet teeth on the overlapping endsextending longitudinally substantially the length of the body wherebyupon expansion of said liner said ratchet teeth engage and preventcollapsing of the liner.

3. An expansible liner for lowering into a well bore and expanding intoposition therein for lining a section of wall or casing thereofcomprising, a general tubular, elongate, metal body of integralconstruction and formed of a material capable of being expanded beyondits elastic limit and remain in deformed position, and at least onepacking ring surrounding the body for radial expansion into sealingengagement with the section of wall or casing on expansion of said bodyas aforesaid.

, 4. An expansible liner for lowering into a well bore and expandinginto position therein for lining a section of wall therein comprising, agenerally tubular, elongate, thin-walled, metal body adapted to beradially expanded into engagement with the section of wall, a pluralityof anchors circumferentially-spaced about the body of the liner, meansyieldingly forcing the anchors outwardly into engagement with the wall,and means restraining outward movement of such anchors but releasableupon radial expansion of said body to thereby release said anchors.

5. An expansible liner for lowering into a well bore and expanding intoposition therein for lining a section of wall therein comprising, agenerally tubular,.elongate, thin-walled, metal body adapted to beradially expanded into engagement with the section of wall, and at leastone packing ring surrounding the body for radial expansion into sealingengagement with the section of wall on expansion of said body asaforesaid.

6. The expansible liner of claim 5 where the body is longitudinallysplit along its length and is provided with longitudinally extending,mating ends along the split, and engageable means along the endsrestraining collapsing of the liner when engaged.

7. The expansible liner of claim 5 including means in the bodyestablishing fluid communication of the interior of the body with saidsection of wall.

8. An expansible liner for lowering into a well bore and expanding intoposition therein for lining a section of wall therein comprising, agenerally tubular, elongate, thin-walled, metal body adapted to beradially expanded into engagement with the section of wall, a pair ofaxially-spaced packing rings surrounding the body for radial expansioninto sealing engagement with the section of wall on expansion of saidbody as aforesaid, and means in the body between said packing ringsestablishing fluid communication of the interior of the body with saidsection of wall.

9. An expansible liner for lowering into a well bore and expanding intoposition therein for lining a section of wall therein comprising, agenerally tubular, elongate, thin-walled, metal body adapted to beradially expanded into engagement with the section of wall, and fluidpassage means disposed in the body establishing fluid communication ofthe interior of the body with said section of wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS313,915 Bole Mar. 17, 1885 341,327 Fay May 4, 1886 984,449 Stewart Feb.14, 1911 1,233,888 Leonard July 17, 1917 1,380,182 Bigelow May 31, 19211,514,062 McLain Nov. 4, 1924 1,880,218 Simmons Oct. 4, 1932 2,214,226English Sept. 10, 1940 2,583,316 Bannister Ian. 22, 1952

